Removing Mold Odors from Wood Furniture

Mold begins to grow in the corners and threatens to ruin the entire piece.

Ozone or hydroxyl generators may work miracles when it comes to removing a persistent musty smell for good, but usually only professionals have the proper equipment required for such a specialized and costly deodorization method. It is used to deal with the aftermath of a disaster when severe damage has been inflicted on public buildings, business, etc. Of course, you can hire restoration companies to deodorize your home, too, by means of this advanced technique, but mold odor coming from a furniture piece is not such a troublesome issue and you may want to try several simple practices first that stand a fair chance of yielding satisfactory results.

Removing musty odor from wood furniture may be quite a challenging process indeed, especially if there is actual mold growth on the piece. In this case removing the mold from the wood should be your primary concern, together with an effective method to prevent its reappearance.

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You need to identify and eliminate the cause of the fungus growth to kill the microbes and clean the furniture thoroughly, then absorb any remaining odor, and finally, refinish (repaint and/or re-polish – according to the specific condition of your piece) the wood surface. Depending on the type of the wood, the age of the furniture, and the nature of the sustained damage, the smell may not be too persistent, or mold may not have developed yet, so the remedy can be much faster and easier.

Either way, armed with knowledge and patience, you should be able to recover a cherished old furniture piece from the nasty smell without losing too much time or money in the process. If you are faced with the problem of deodorizing furniture or removing mold from wood, here are several ideas that may work for you.

How To Remove Mold From Wood Furniture

Mold develops in areas where air flow is limited and dampness resides. So, if your furniture stays in humid surroundings with no proper ventilation, such as basements or attics, it can take in moisture and allow bacteria and germs to permeate the porous structure of the wood. You must take adequate measures to dry the piece off completely, to kill the spores, and to prevent mildew from reappearing.

Dehumidify. Take the furniture to an enclosed room with a dehumidifier running for several days. It will suck the moisture and some of the odor out of the wood.

Murphy’s Oil and other efficient cleaning products will help you restore a moldy furniture piece.

Sand and scrub. You will be able to remove the surface layers of the wood furniture where grime has built up over the years and to clear away any fungi that have grown in it. This will allow the natural wood to breathe and will remove musty odors that have been caught in the finish.

Apply wood soap and let dry out again. There is a variety of antifungal detergents that are especially designed to clean wood in depth and kill the bacteria inside. Follow the manufacturer’s directions on how to use your preferred cleaning agent properly and test it first on a small area that is not too obvious. If everything looks fine, soak a cloth in the cleaning solution you have prepared in accordance with the instructions and wipe. Apply the wood soap carefully all over the piece – on its edges and corners, inside the drawers, and under the handles. Then allow the furniture to dry thoroughly.

Spray disinfectants. If you can still smell unpleasant odor after using all the above methods, you may try spraying the entire piece thoroughly with bleach or alcohol. This will sanitize and purify your piece, eliminating the odor, too.

Refinish your piece. Once the mold has been removed together with the musty smell it produces, you should refinish the surfaces to seal out moisture and prevent future mold development. Paint and/or polish with appropriate products, such as shellac, poly, or wax depending on the type of wood. Apply several coatings to blend the color perfectly and to better seal your furniture but allow each layer to fully dry before spreading the next one.

Your furniture should be as good as new!

Removing mold from wood furniture is the first step to getting rid of the unpleasant smell. However, stale odor may still linger or it may be present even when there is no apparent mold growth on your piece.

How To Remove Musty Smells From Wood Furniture

Now that you already know how to clean mold from wood furniture, have a look at the following practical tips on permanent deodorization.

The sun rays are very beneficial when it comes to eliminating musty odors.

Clean vigorously. As already mentioned, wood is porous and can easily take in various unpleasant odors from the surroundings. To cope with the smell, clean carefully inside the drawers and all over the surface, including the underside, with a sponge or a cloth saturated with vinegar, wood soap, or any other sanitizing solution. You may even use a brush dampened in mineral spirits.

Let it dry in the sun. Natural sunlight will help dry out the wood and eliminate any smells very efficiently. What is more, the ultraviolet rays of the sun will actually purify your furniture piece by provoking the decomposition of various harmful compounds. Keeping the wood outside, under a covered porch, for example, will prove to be very beneficial for removing odor and even mold on wood furniture, provided that you live in dry climate. However, if your environment is humid, place your piece in a conditioned room and use a dehumidifier.

Use odor absorbing substances. To completely remove unpleasant smells from your furniture, try some odor fighting substances. Fill small bowls with vinegar and place one in every drawer. After several days the musty odor should be completely absorbed. You can also use coffee grounds or charcoal, crystal gel, or some other specific product, but even baking soda or crumpled paper can absorb smells very well.

Ancient pieces are meant to bring enchantment to your home, not mold odors.

When you remove the substance, place your furniture in a dry well-ventilated area and leave all doors and drawers open for a few days.

If you have a couch or an upholstered chair that has a musty smell or mold patches on it, you need to have the upholstery cleaned very well. Spray the piece with adequate product (like Lysol) and rub it in vigorously. You can even try rubbing alcohol. A steam cleaner will also help a lot to remove stains and odors alike, but remember that professional cleaning services are always recommended, especially for delicate leather furniture.

Try out the above methods and you will probably soon forget all about the musty odor. However, if the damage is too severe, do not hesitate to ask for experienced help in order to restore the perfect condition of your furniture. Experts have specialized equipment and know their way around difficult problems. You will be truly glad to have some cherished furniture pieces that have stayed hidden in basements and garages for years free of repulsive smells and mold patches.